U.S. patent number 8,696,055 [Application Number 13/615,806] was granted by the patent office on 2014-04-15 for highchair with adjustable tray and seat height.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Helen of Troy Limited. The grantee listed for this patent is Ronald Ondrey, Charlie Paradise, Christian Stolarz, Eli Worden, Christopher Xydis. Invention is credited to Ronald Ondrey, Charlie Paradise, Christian Stolarz, Eli Worden, Christopher Xydis.
United States Patent |
8,696,055 |
Stolarz , et al. |
April 15, 2014 |
Highchair with adjustable tray and seat height
Abstract
A highchair includes a seat assembly, a tray connected with the
seat assembly, a leg assembly connected with the seat assembly, and
an adjustment mechanism. The seat assembly includes a rear support
surface and a lower support surface for supporting an infant or
child. The leg assembly is configured to support the seat assembly
above a floor surface. The adjustment mechanism can be for
adjusting the tray with respect to the seat assembly or the seat
assembly with respect to the leg assembly. The adjustment mechanism
can include a button, a linkage, a cable, and a locking member.
Inventors: |
Stolarz; Christian (Brooklyn,
NY), Xydis; Christopher (New York City, NY), Ondrey;
Ronald (Bayonne, NJ), Worden; Eli (New York City,
NY), Paradise; Charlie (Brooklyn, NY) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Stolarz; Christian
Xydis; Christopher
Ondrey; Ronald
Worden; Eli
Paradise; Charlie |
Brooklyn
New York City
Bayonne
New York City
Brooklyn |
NY
NY
NJ
NY
NY |
US
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Helen of Troy Limited
(Belleville, St. Michael, BB)
|
Family
ID: |
50273697 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/615,806 |
Filed: |
September 14, 2012 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20140077534 A1 |
Mar 20, 2014 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/149; 297/153;
297/148 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D
1/0081 (20170501); A47D 1/004 (20130101); A47D
1/0085 (20170501) |
Current International
Class: |
A47D
1/00 (20060101); A47B 83/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;297/148,149,150,151,152,153,154,155 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: White; Rodney B
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Rankin, Hill & Clark LLP
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A high chair comprising: a seat assembly including a rear
support surface and a lower support surface; a tray connected with
the seat assembly; a leg assembly connected with the seat assembly,
the leg assembly being configured to support the seat assembly
above a floor surface; a button pivotally connected with the tray
or the seat assembly; a linkage including a first end and a second
end, the first end of the linkage being pivotally connected with
the button, wherein pivotal movement of the button about a button
pivot axis results in pivotal movement of the linkage about a
linkage pivot axis, which is spaced from the button pivot axis; a
cable including a first end and a second end, the first end of the
cable being connected with the second end of the linkage, wherein
pivotal movement of the button about the button pivot axis results
in translational movement at the second end of the linkage, which
results in movement of the cable in an unlocking direction; a
locking member connected with the second end of the cable and
releasably coupled with the seat assembly or the leg assembly, the
locking member being moveable between a locked position where the
locking member engages the seat assembly or the leg assembly and an
unlocked position where the locking member is disengaged from the
seat assembly or the leg assembly, wherein movement of the cable in
the unlocking direction results in movement the locking member
toward the unlocked position.
2. The high chair of claim 1, wherein the linkage pivot axis is
parallel to the button pivot axis and adjacent the first end of the
linkage.
3. The high chair of claim 1, wherein the button includes a
proximal end adjacent to the button pivot axis and a distal end
spaced from the proximal end, wherein the button connects with the
tray or the seat assembly at the proximal end, wherein upward
pivotal movement of the distal end of the button results in
translational movement of the second end of the linkage toward the
proximal end of the button.
4. The high chair of claim 1, wherein the button includes a
proximal end adjacent to the button pivot axis and a distal end
spaced from the proximal end, wherein the linkage is movable
between a first position and a second position, when the linkage is
in the first position the locking member is in the locked position,
when the linkage is in the second position the locking member in
the unlocked position, when the linkage is in the first position
the second end of the linkage is closer to the distal end of the
button as compared to the first end of the linkage.
5. The high chair of claim 1, wherein the button includes a
proximal end adjacent to the button pivot axis and a distal end
spaced from the proximal end, wherein the button further includes a
contact surface configured to be pressed against by an operator to
pivot the button about the button pivot axis, wherein the contact
surface is disposed below the button pivot axis.
6. The high chair of claim 1, wherein the button includes a mount
integrally formed with the button, wherein the mount receives an
axle connected with the first end of the linkage and coaxial with
the linkage pivot axis.
7. The high chair of claim 1, wherein the tray includes a top piece
and a bottom piece which when connected define a hollow interior,
wherein the second end of the linkage contacts a lower surface of
the top piece.
8. The high chair of claim 1, wherein the button includes a
tray-adjusting button pivotally connected with the tray and the
seat assembly includes a carriage and a seat, which includes the
rear support surface and the lower support surface, connected with
the carriage, wherein the locking member includes a tray locking
member that engages the carriage when in the locked position.
9. The high chair of claim 8, wherein the carriage includes a
plurality of tray adjustment holes disposed along a generally
horizontal direction, wherein the tray locking member is configured
to be received in each tray adjustment hole.
10. The high chair of claim 1, wherein the seat assembly includes a
carriage and a seat, which includes the rear support surface and
the lower support surface, connected with the carriage, wherein the
button includes a seat-height adjustment button pivotally connected
with the carriage and the locking member includes a seat-height
locking member that engages the leg assembly when in the locked
position.
11. The high chair of claim 10, wherein the leg assembly includes a
plurality of seat-height adjustment holes disposed along a
generally vertical direction, wherein the seat-height locking
member is configured to be received in each seat-height adjustment
hole.
12. The high chair of claim 10, wherein the carriage includes a
support connected to the leg assembly at a lower end of the
support, wherein the seat-height adjustment button is located
adjacent an upper end of the support on an outer surface of the
support.
13. The high chair of claim 12, wherein the support includes an arm
rest flange at the upper end and a shroud extending outwardly from
the outer surface of the support and covering the seat-height
adjustment button, wherein a portion of the tray is disposed
between the arm rest flange and the shroud when the tray is
connected with the carriage.
14. The high chair of claim 12, wherein the second end of the
linkage contacts a lower surface of the shroud.
15. The high chair of claim 1, wherein the seat assembly includes a
carriage and a seat, which includes the rear support surface and
the lower support surface, connected with the carriage, wherein the
button pivotally connected with the seat assembly includes a tray
adjustment button and a seat-height adjustment button, wherein the
linkage includes a first linkage pivotally connected with the tray
adjustment button and a second linkage pivotally connected with the
seat-height adjustment button, wherein the cable includes a first
cable connected with the first linkage and a second cable connected
with the second linkage, wherein the locking member includes tray
locking member that engages the carriage when in the locked
position and a seat-height locking member that engages the leg
assembly when in the locked position.
16. A high chair comprising: a seat assembly including a rear
support surface and a lower support surface; a tray connected with
the seat assembly; a button pivotally connected with the tray; a
linkage including a first end and a second end, the first end of
the linkage being pivotally connected with the button, wherein
upward pivotal movement of the button about a button pivot axis
results in pivotal movement of the linkage about a linkage pivot
axis; a cable including a first end and a second end, the first end
of the cable being connected with the second end of the linkage,
wherein the upward pivotal movement of the button about the button
pivot axis results in translational movement at the second end of
the linkage toward a forward edge of the tray, which results in
movement of the cable in an unlocking direction; a locking member
connected with the second end of the cable and releasably coupled
with the seat assembly, the locking member being moveable between a
locked position where the locking member engages the seat assembly
and an unlocked position where the locking member is disengaged
from the seat assembly, wherein movement of the cable in the
unlocking direction results in movement the locking member toward
the unlocked position.
17. The high chair of claim 16, wherein the button includes a
proximal end adjacent to the button pivot axis and a distal end
spaced from the proximal end, wherein the linkage is movable
between a first position and a second position, when the linkage is
in the first position the locking member is in the locked position,
when the linkage is in the second position the locking member in
the unlocked position, when the linkage is in the first position
the second end of the linkage is closer to the distal end of the
button as compared to the first end of the linkage.
18. A high chair comprising: a seat assembly including a rear
support surface and a lower support surface; a leg assembly
connected with the seat assembly, the leg assembly being configured
to support the seat assembly above a floor surface; a button
pivotally connected with the seat assembly; a linkage including a
first end and a second end, the first end of the linkage being
pivotally connected with the button, wherein pivotal movement of
the button about a button pivot axis results in pivotal movement of
the linkage about a linkage pivot axis; a cable including a first
end and a second end, the first end of the cable being connected
with the second end of the linkage, wherein pivotal movement of the
button about the button pivot axis results in translational
movement at the second end of the linkage, which results in
movement of the cable in an unlocking direction; a locking member
connected with the second end of the cable and releasably coupled
with the leg assembly, the locking member being moveable between a
locked position where the locking member engages the leg assembly
and an unlocked position where the locking member is disengaged
from the leg assembly, wherein movement of the cable in the
unlocking direction results in movement the locking member toward
the unlocked position.
19. The high chair of claim 18, wherein the seat assembly includes
a carriage and a seat, which includes the rear support surface and
the lower support surface, connected with the carriage, wherein the
carriage includes a support connected to the leg assembly at a
lower end of the support, wherein the seat-height adjustment button
is located adjacent an upper end of the support on an outer surface
of the support.
20. The high chair of claim 19, wherein the support includes an arm
rest flange at the upper end and a shroud extending outwardly from
the outer surface of the support and covering the button, wherein
the second end of the linkage contacts a lower surface of the
shroud.
Description
BACKGROUND
Highchairs for infants and children typically include a seat
supported above the floor and a tray attached to the seat upon
which food and drink for the child can be placed. Oftentimes, the
tray is removable from the seat for easy cleaning. Additionally,
the tray can be adjusted with respect to the seat. These tray
adjustment mechanisms, however, can be improved to be more
intuitive and user friendly. Also, the height of the seat with
respect to the ground can also be adjusted. These seat-height
adjustment mechanisms can also be improved to be more intuitive and
user friendly.
SUMMARY
A highchair than can overcome at least one of the aforementioned
shortcomings includes a seat assembly, a tray connected with the
seat assembly, a leg assembly connected with the seat assembly, and
an adjustment mechanism. The seat assembly includes a rear support
surface and a lower support surface for supporting an infant or
child. The leg assembly is configured to support the seat assembly
above a floor surface. The adjustment mechanism can be for
adjusting the tray with respect to the seat assembly or the seat
assembly with respect to the leg assembly.
Such an adjustment mechanism can include a button, a linkage, a
cable, and a locking member. The button pivotally connects with the
tray or the seat assembly. The linkage includes a first end and a
second end, and the first end of the linkage is pivotally connected
with the button. The cable also includes a first end and a second
end, and the first end of the cable is connected with the second
end of the linkage. The locking member connects with the second end
of the cable and releasably couples with the seat assembly or the
leg assembly. The locking member is moveable between a locked
position, in which the locking member engages the seat assembly or
the leg assembly, and unlocked position, in which the locking
member is disengaged from the seat assembly or the leg assembly.
Pivotal movement of the button about a button pivot axis results in
pivotal movement of the linkage about a linkage pivot axis, which
is spaced from the button pivot axis. Pivotal movement of the
button about the button pivot axis also results in translational
movement at the second end of the linkage, which results in
movement of the cable in an unlocking direction. Movement of the
cable in the unlocking direction results in movement of the locking
member toward the unlocked position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a highchair.
FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the highchair depicted in
FIG. 1 with a tray of the highchair removed from a remainder of the
highchair.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lower side of the tray of the
highchair depicted in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 in
FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a lower side of the tray with a
bottom piece of the tray removed to show internal components of the
tray.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an upper side of the tray with a
top piece of the tray removed to show the internal components.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a carriage of the highchair
depicted in FIG. 1.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the carriage depicted in FIG. 7
with a left inner carriage member piece and a right outer carriage
member piece removed from the carriage to show the internal
components of the carriage.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 9-9 in
FIG. 7.
FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the high chair depicted in
FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 depicts a highchair 10 including a seat assembly 12, a tray
14 connected with the seat assembly 12, and a leg assembly 16
connected with the seat assembly 12. As illustrated, the seat
assembly 12 includes a carriage 18 and a seat 20. The highchair 10
also includes at least one adjustment mechanism, which will be
described in more detail below, for adjusting the tray 14 with
respect to the seat assembly 12 or for adjusting the seat assembly
12 with respect to the leg assembly 16. Throughout the description
and claims, the term "or" should be read as inclusive, unless the
context clearly states otherwise. Each adjustment mechanism is
designed to be intuitive and user friendly to allow for easy
adjustment of the tray 14 with respect to the seat 20 or to allow
for easy adjustment of the height of the seat 20 with respect to
floor surface 22 upon which the highchair 10 rests.
As mentioned above, the seat assembly 12 includes the carriage 18
and the seat 20. With reference to FIG. 2, the seat 20 includes a
rear support surface 28 for supporting the back of an occupant of
the highchair 10 and a lower support surface 30 for supporting the
rear and legs of the occupant. A crotch post 32 is also provided on
the seat 20. The seat 20 is moveable with respect to the carriage
18. More particularly, the seat 20 can pivot with respect to the
carriage 18 into a number of different reclined positions.
With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the carriage 18 includes a left
carriage support 38 a right carriage support 40, which are
connected by a crossbar 42. The terms "left" and "right" are used
to facilitate description of the highchair 10 with respect to the
figures. These terms are relative to a person facing the highchair
10 so as to feed a child sitting in the highchair. The left
carriage support 38 is a mirror image of the right carriage support
40. For the sake of brevity, the portion of each support that is
visible in FIGS. 7 and 8 will be described with the understanding
that the other support has the same structure. Also, like reference
numbers will be used to described elements found on both
supports.
Each support 38, 40 includes an outer piece 46 connected with an
inner piece 48. The outer piece 46 and the inner piece 48 in the
illustrated embodiment are made from plastic and house internal
components. Each support 38, 40 also includes a lower end 52 and an
upper end 54. The term "end" is not limited to the terminus of the
component, but instead should be read to also include a region of
the component adjacent the terminus. A passage 56 is formed near
the lower end 52 of each support for connecting with the leg
assembly 16 (FIG. 1). Tubular metal stock 58, which is connected
with the crossbar 42 that is also made of similar tubular metal
stock, is enclosed by the outer piece 46 and the inner piece 48 of
each support 38, 40.
Each support 38, 40 includes an armrest flange 60 at the upper end
54. The arm rest flange 60 extends outwardly and is located with
respect to the seat 20 such that the armrest flange can operate as
an arm rest when the tray 14 is not attached (see FIG. 2). A shroud
62 extends outwardly from an outer surface 64 adjacent the upper
end 54 of each support 38, 40. The carriage 18 also includes a
plurality of tray adjustment holes 66 disposed along a generally
horizontal direction. The tray adjustment holes 66 are disposed
just beneath the armrest flange 60 and above the shroud 62 in each
support 38, 40.
Each support 38, 40 also includes an arc-shaped notch 68 that leads
into a plurality of recesses 72. The arch-shaped notch 68 is formed
along a radius centered coaxially with a central axis of the
crossbar 42. The seat 20 is supported by the crossbar 42 and can
pivot about the central axis of the crossbar. An adjustment
mechanism, similar to known adjustment mechanisms, can be used to
position the chair in different reclined positions with respect to
the carriage 18 by use of the arch-shaped notch 68 and recesses
72.
With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the tray 14 includes a top piece
80 and a bottom piece 82. The tray 14 also includes left and right
lower channels 84, 86, respectively. The left lower channel 84 is
configured to receive the armrest flange 60 at the upper end 54 of
the left support 38 of the carriage 18 and the right lower channel
86 is configured to receive the armrest flange 60 at the upper end
54 of the right support 40 of the carriage 18. The left lower
channel 84 and the right lower channel 86 are formed at opposite
sides of the tray 14 and are formed in the bottom piece 82 in the
illustrated embodiment. The tray 14 also includes a lower shroud 88
that defines a forward opening 90. The lower shroud 88 is
integrally formed with the bottom piece 82.
The tray 14 also includes a tray adjustment mechanism for adjusting
the tray 14 with respect to the seat assembly 12. The top piece 80
of the tray 14 connects with the bottom piece 82 to define a hollow
interior 92, which can house some components of the tray adjustment
mechanism. With reference to FIGS. 3-6, the tray adjustment
mechanism includes a button 100, a linkage 102, a cable 104, and a
locking member 106. Upward pivotal movement of the button 100
results in translational movement of the linkage 102, which results
in movement of the locking member 106, which allows for adjustment
of the tray 14 with respect to the seat assembly 12.
With reference to FIG. 4, the button 100, which can also be
referred to as a tray adjustment button, pivotally connects with
the tray 14. The button 100 connects with a mount 110 formed on an
internal surface 112 of the bottom piece 82 of the tray 14. The
button 100 pivots about a button pivot axis 114. The button 100
includes a proximal end 116 adjacent to the button pivot axis 114
and a distal end 118 spaced from the proximal end 116. The button
100 connects with the tray 14 at the proximal end 116. The button
100 further includes a contact surface 120, which is configured to
be pressed against by an operator to pivot the button about the
button pivot axis 114. As evident in FIG. 4, the contact surface
120 is disposed below the button pivot axis 114 and near the distal
end 118. Also, the contact surface 120 is substantially covered by
the shroud 88 and access to the contact surface 120 is provided
through the opening 90. The button 100 further includes a linkage
mount 122 integrally formed with the button 100. The linkage mount
122 provides a location to connect the linkage 102 with the button
100.
The linkage 102 includes a first end 130 and a second end 132. The
first end 130 of the linkage 102 is pivotally connected with the
button 100. As more clearly seen in FIG. 6, in the illustrated
embodiment, the linkage mount 122 on the button 100 receives an
axle 136 connected with the first end 130 of the linkage 102.
Pivotal movement of the button 100 about the button pivot axis 114
results in pivotal movement of the linkage 102 about a linkage
pivot axis 134, which is spaced from the button pivot axis. The
axle 136, which connects the linkage 102 with the button 100, is
coaxial with the linkage pivot axis 134. The linkage pivot axis 134
is parallel to the button pivot axis 114 and adjacent to the first
end 130 of the linkage 102. Pivotal movement of the button 100
about the button pivot axis 114 results in movement of the linkage
pivot axis 134 about an arc having a radius emanating from the
button pivot axis 114.
The tray 14 depicted in the figures includes two cables 104. Each
cable 104 is similar and therefore similar reference numerals will
be used for the cables. Each cable 104 includes a first end 140 and
a second end 142. The first end 140 of the cable 104 is connected
with the second end 132 of the linkage 102. The locking member 106
is connected with the second end 142 of the cable 104 through a
biasing mechanism 146, which biases the locking member 106 into the
respective lower channels 84, 86 of the tray 14 for receipt in the
tray adjustment holes 66 found in the carriage 18. This allows the
locking member 106 to be releasably coupled with the seat assembly
12. The locking member 106 is moveable between a locked position
where the locking member 106 engages the seat assembly 12 and an
unlocked position where the locking member 106 is disengaged from
the seat assembly 12. In the locked position, the locking member
106 fits into one of the tray adjustment holes 66. In the unlocked
position, the locking member is moved out of the respective tray
adjustment hole 66.
With reference to FIG. 4, pivotal movement of the button 100 about
the button pivot axis 114 results in pivotal movement of the
linkage 102 about the linkage pivot axis 134. Pivotal movement of
the button 100 about the button pivot axis 114 also results in
translational movement at the second end 132 of the linkage 102,
which results in movement of the cable 104 in an unlocking
direction 150. Movement of the cable 104 in the unlocking direction
150 results in movement of the locking member 106 toward the
unlocked position, which is the position in which the locking
member 106 is disengaged from the seat assembly 12 and more
particularly the carriage 18 of the seat assembly. Upward pivotal
movement of the distal end 118 of the button 100 results in
translational movement of the second end 132 of the linkage 102
toward the proximal end 118 of the button 100. The linkage 102 is
moveable between a first position (shown in solid lines in FIG. 4)
and a second position (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 4). When the
linkage is in the first position, the locking member 106 is in the
locked position. When the linkage 102 is in the second position,
the locking member 106 is in the unlocked position. When the
linkage is in the first position, the second end 132 of the linkage
102 is closer to the distal end 118 of the button 100 as compared
to the first end 130 of the linkage 102. This allows the desirable
movement of the second end 132 of the linkage 102 toward a forward
edge 148 of the tray 14 which results in a tensile force being
applied to the cable 104 which draws the cable in the unlocking
direction 150. As the distal end 118 of the button 100 is moved
upwards, the second end 132 of the linkage 102 contacts a lower
surface 152 of the top piece 80 of the tray 14. The second end 132
of the linkage 102 rides along the lower surface 152 of the top
piece 80 as the distal end of the button 100 continues to be moved
upward.
To adjust the tray 14 with respect to the seat assembly 12, an
operator inserts her fingers through the opening 90 between the
shroud 88 and the contact surface 120 of the button 100. The
operator can place her thumb on an upper surface 154 of the top
piece 80 of the tray 14. The operator then pushes upward with her
fingers on the contact surface of the button 100. This results in
the button 100 rotating about the button pivot axis 114. As the
button 100 rotates about the button pivot axis 114, the linkage 102
pivots about the linkage pivot axis 134 and translates along the
lower surface 152 of the top piece 80 of the tray 14. The second
end 132 of the linkage 122 moves in a generally linear direction
toward a front end of the tray 14 pulling the cable 104 in the
unlocking direction 150. This results in the locking members 106,
which can also be referred to as tray locking members, to disengage
from the tray adjustment holes 66 formed in the carriage 18. Since
the tray locking members 106 are configured to be received in each
tray adjustment hole 66, the tray 14 can be adjusted in a
horizontal direction with respect to the seat 20 and the carriage
18 by the upward movement of the button 100 and then horizontal
movement of the tray 14.
With reference back to FIG. 1, the leg assembly 16 is connected
with the seat assembly 12 and is configured to support the seat
assembly 12 above the floor surface 22. With reference to FIG. 2,
the leg assembly 16 includes a left leg member 160 that is a mirror
image of a right leg member 162. As such, the visible portions of
each leg member 160, 162 will be described with the understanding
that the other leg member has the same structure. Also, like
reference numbers will be used to describe elements found in each
leg member. Each leg member 160, 162 is made from a tubular metal
stock, which as illustrated is bent in a general upside down
U-shape.
Each leg member includes a front section 164, a rear section 166,
and a central section 168 that interconnects the front section 164
to the rear section 166. In the illustrated embodiment, the front
section 164 is generally inclined forwardly and the rear section
166 is generally inclined rearwardly. The central section 168 is
generally horizontal. The left leg member 160 is spaced from the
right leg member 162 a distance d. The front section 164 also
includes a plurality of seat-height adjustment holes 172 disposed
along a generally vertical direction.
The left leg member 160 connects with the right leg member 162 by
way of a forward cross member 176 and two rear cross members 178.
The forward cross member 176 is disposed vertically beneath the
seat-height adjustment holes 172 and interconnects the respective
forward sections 164 of the left leg member 160 and the right leg
member 162. Wheel assemblies 180 are disposed at ends of each of
the leg members 160 and 162 to allow for the highchair 10 to be
easily maneuvered across the floor surface 22.
The carriage 18 connects with the leg assembly 16. As mentioned
above, the carriage 18 includes left and right supports 38, 40
connected to the leg assembly at the lower end 52 of each support.
A seat-height adjustment mechanism is carried by the carriage 18 to
adjust the height of the seat 20 with respect to the floor surface
22.
With reference to FIGS. 7-9, the seat height adjustment mechanism
includes a button 200, a linkage 202, a cable 204, and a locking
member 206. The button 200, which can also be referred to as a
seat-height adjustment button, is located adjacent the upper end 54
of each support 38, 40 of the carriage 18. The seat-height
adjustment button 200 is located on the outer surface 64 of each
support 38, 40. The shroud 62 extends outwardly from the outer
surface 64 of the support 38, 40 and covers the seat-height
adjustment button 200. A portion of the tray 14 is disposed between
the armrest flange 60 and the shroud 62 when the tray is connected
with the carriage 18. Locating the seat-height adjustment button
adjacent the upper end 54 of each support 38, 40 allows for an
operator to easily adjust the seat height 20 with respect to the
ground surface 22 by providing the button in a convenient location.
The seat-height adjustment button 200 operates in a manner similar
to the tray adjustment button 100 described above.
With reference to FIG. 8, the seat-height adjustment button 200
pivotally connects with the seat assembly 12. The button 200 (two
seat-height adjustment buttons are provided in the illustrated
embodiment) connects with a mount 210 formed on an internal surface
212 of the inner piece 48 of each support 38, 40. With reference to
FIG. 9, the button 200 pivots about a button pivot axis 214. The
button 200 includes a proximal end 216 adjacent to the button pivot
axis 214 and a distal end 218 spaced from the proximal end 216. The
button 200 connects with each support 38, 40 of the carriage 18 at
the proximal end 216. The button 200 further includes a contact
surface 220, which is configured to be pressed upward to pivot the
button about the button pivot axis 214. The contact surface 220 is
disposed below the button pivot axis 214 and near the distal end
218. The button 200 further includes a linkage mount 222 integrally
formed with the button 200. The linkage mount 222 provides a
location to connect the linkage 202 with the button 200.
The linkage 202 includes a first end 230 and a second end 232. The
first end 230 of the linkage 202 is pivotally connected with the
button 200. As more clearly seen in FIG. 8, the linkage mount 222
on the button 200 receives an axle 236 connected with the first end
230 of the linkage 202. Pivotal movement of the button 200 about
the button pivot axis 214 results in pivotal movement of the
linkage 202 about a linkage pivot axis 234, which is spaced from
the button pivot axis. The axle 236, which connects the linkage 202
with the button 200, is coaxial with the linkage pivot axis 234.
The linkage pivot axis 234 is parallel to the button pivot axis 214
and adjacent to the first end 230 of the linkage 202. Pivotal
movement of the button 200 about the button pivot axis 214 results
in movement of the linkage pivot axis 234 about an arc having a
radius emanating from the button pivot axis 214.
The carriage 18 includes two cables 204: one cable connects with
the button 200 on the left support 38 and one cable connects with
the button 200 on the right support 40 of the carriage. Each cable
204 is similar and therefore similar reference numerals will be
used for the cables. Each cable 204 includes a first end 240 and a
second end 242. The first end 240 of the cable 204 is connected
with the second end 232 of the linkage 202. The locking member 206
is connected with the second end 242 of the cable 204 through a
biasing mechanism 246, which biases the locking member 206 into the
passage 56 of each support 38, 40 for receipt in the seat-height
adjustment holes 172 found in the leg members 160, 162. This allows
the locking member 206 to be releasably coupled with the leg
assembly 16. The locking member 206 is moveable between a locked
position where the locking member 206 engages the leg assembly 16
and an unlocked position where the locking member 206 is disengaged
from the leg assembly 16. In the locked position, the locking
member 206 fits into one of the seat-height adjustment holes 172.
In the unlocked position, the locking member is moved out of the
respective seat-height adjustment hole 172.
With reference to FIG. 9, pivotal movement of the button 200 about
the button pivot axis 214 results in pivotal movement of the
linkage 202 about the linkage pivot axis 234. Pivotal movement of
the button 200 about the button pivot axis 214 also results in
translational movement at the second end 232 of the linkage 202,
which results in movement of the cable 204 in an unlocking
direction 250. Movement of the cable 204 in the unlocking direction
250 results in movement of the locking member 206 toward the
unlocked position, which is the position in which the locking
member 206 is disengaged from the leg assembly 16 and more
particularly each leg member 160, 162 of the leg assembly. Upward
pivotal movement of the distal end 218 of the button 200 results in
translational movement of the second end 232 of the linkage 202
toward the proximal end 218 of the button 200. The linkage 202 is
moveable between a first position (shown in FIG. 9) and a second
position (similar to the linkage 102 shown in dashed lines in FIG.
4). When the linkage 202 is in the first position, the locking
member 206 is in the locked position. When the linkage 202 is in
the second position, the locking member 206 is in the unlocked
position. When the linkage 202 is in the first position, the second
end 232 of the linkage 202 is closer to the distal end 218 of the
button 200 as compared to the first end 230 of the linkage 202. As
the distal end 218 of the button 200 is moved upwards, the second
end 232 of the linkage 202 contacts a lower surface 252 of the
shroud 62. The second end 232 of the linkage 202 rides along the
lower surface 252 of the shroud 62 as the distal end 218 of the
button 200 continues to be moved upward.
To adjust the seat assembly 12 with respect to the leg assembly 16,
an operator presses upwardly against the contact surface 220 of the
button 200. The operator can place her thumb of the same hand on
the upper surface 154 of the top piece 80 of the tray 14 or on an
upper surface 254 of the shroud 62. The operator then pushes upward
with her fingers on the contact surface of the button 200. This
results in the button 200 rotating about the button pivot axis 214.
As the button 200 rotates about the button pivot axis 214, the
linkage 202 pivots about the linkage pivot axis 234 and translates
along the lower surface 252 of the shroud 62. The second end 232 of
the linkage 222 moves in a generally linear direction toward an
outer end of the shroud 62 pulling the cable 204 in the unlocking
direction 250. This results in the locking members 206, which can
also be referred to as seat-height locking members, to disengage
from the seat-height adjustment holes 172 formed in the leg
assembly 16. Since the tray locking members 206 are configured to
be received in each seat-height adjustment hole 172, the seat
assembly 12, and more particularly the seat 20, can be adjusted in
a generally vertical direction with respect to the leg assembly 16
and the floor surface 22 by the upward movement of the button 200
and then vertical movement of the seat assembly 18. As evident in
FIG. 10, the distance d between the left leg member 160 and the
right leg member 162 is greater than the distance between the outer
surface 64 of the left support 38 and the outer surface 64 of the
right support 40 of the carriage 18 between the shroud 62 and the
passage 56 that receives a respective leg member 160,162. This
allows the seat 20 to be lowered to a height nearly aligned with
the central section 168 of each leg member 160, 162 of the leg
assembly 16.
A highchair has been described above with particularity.
Modifications and alterations will occur to those upon reading and
understanding the preceding detailed description. The invention,
however, is not limited to only the embodiment described above.
Instead, the invention is broadly defined by the appended claims
and the equivalents thereof. It will be appreciated that various of
the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or
alternatives or varieties thereof, may be desirably combined into
many other different systems or applications. Also that various
presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications,
variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by
those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed
by the following claims.
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